Online MBA Programs

[gaggleofgirls]

Hello -

I am looking to go get my MBA (after 20+ years in high-tech marketing) but I do not currently live near a University and moving is not an option for my family, so I am looking at online programs.

I am an experienced telecommuter and will be able to participate and enjoy an online program.

The reason to get my MBA is to add gain more skills and round out my business knowledge for a possible entrepreneurial venture and just have more options in the workforce (especially as a remote worker). I ma looking forward to learning as well as contributing my experience and not just to getting the three letters, so am looking for a program with some meat to it.

So, my question is about good online MBA programs.

I have identified three programs to apply to: Penn State iMBA, Indian University Kelley Direct MBA and Arizona State University WM Carey MBA online. Each of these has a 1-2 week residency over the course of the approx 2 year program and that is fine to have occasional residency.

Do you know of any other good online MBA programs?

Thanks,
-Carrie

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear Carrie,

You have identified the three best online options, but I think you will find that there is a difference in the amount of "meat" you will get online versus a campus experience. A big part of a MBA program is the teamwork and networking aspect--both of which are quite difficult to gain in an online program. Since an occasional residency component is workable for you, have you considered an executive MBA program that meets 1 or 2 weekends a month? With 20+ years of experience, I think you might find an executive option more beneficial as you would be in class with your peers and able to learn from their experiences. Duke has a couple options for folks to travel in to North Carolina on a monthly basis and supplement it with online instruction. There are some other schools offering similar options as well, so you might want to do some research on executive programs to identify other options.

Good luck,
Lisa

[gaggleofgirls]

Lisa -

Thanks for the input; I really appreciate it.

I have looked, and based on your recommendation, spent some time looking again tonight, at Executive MBA programs. The amount of travel is just not going to work from a family or financial standpoint. I have three younger children and can't be gone every other weekend for 2 years. I have also spoken with friends who have done Executive MBA programs and there was a lot of local study and project group time in between the on campus weekends, In which I would not be able to participate. At least the online programs are set up for online group dynamics.

I do appreciate you confirming that I had found the major online programs. There is also one at Florida, but the program only starts once a year, in February and I was not even thinking about MBA in Oct/Nov, when I would have needed to finish my application.

Thanks again for your time. Back to my GMAT study - my test date is one week from today.

-Carrie